Russian for English speakers Supermarket · Lesson 4

I can't afford it

Russian for price talk — Я не могу позволить себе (I can't afford it) — using мочь себе позволить.

Conversation

  1. Yaya Yaya

    Эта кровать такая мягкая и большая!

    Èta krovatʹ takaja mjagkaja i bolʹšaja!

    This bed is so soft and big!

  2. Bolin Bolin

    Интересно, она дорогая?

    Interesno, ona dorogaja?

    I wonder, how much is it?

  3. Yaya Yaya

    Сто тысяч, я не могу себе позволить купить её

    Sto tysjač, ja ne mogu sebe pozvolitʹ kupitʹ eë

    100 000, I can't afford it

  4. Bolin Bolin

    Дороговато

    Dorogovato

    It's a bit pricey

    Tip: if you want to add slight meaning, that something is 'a little bit', you can add to an adverb the sufic "-ATO", so a bit expensive, a bit far, a bit sour

Common questions

Quick answers about this lesson's grammar and vocabulary.

What does позволить себе mean?

'To allow oneself / afford'. Я не могу себе позволить = 'I can't afford it'. Common Russian shopping phrase.

Russian для prices?

Дорогой/дорогая/дорогое (expensive), дешёвый (cheap), доступный (affordable), бесплатный (free).

Russian saving money phrases?

Экономить (save), скидка (discount), распродажа (sale), бюджет (budget), цена (price).

Test yourself

Pick the English translation for each line from this lesson. Wrong answers are pulled from other Russian lessons.

4 quick questions on what you just heard.

Next lesson in Supermarket An impulsive purchase →